I-rack….ooops…Iraq had an oppressive regime headed by Saddam Hussein, a dictator, before the US occupied it. So, those protesting against the US occupation of Iraq should know that just as those protesting against the Chinese occupation of Tibet should know about the reality of Tibet before the Chinese occupied it?

Just as the Chinese are bringing the fruits of capitalism and the resultant development to Tibet, the US could also bring along similar ‘benefits’ to Iraq, in due course of time and raise huge shopping malls, cinema theatres and perhaps even karaoke bars in the country. Should that justify the US occupation of Iraq?

If a country has a system of government that is not exactly egalitarian, is that justification enough for another country to go aheand and occupy it, even if the occupation brings along ‘economic development’ in its wake?

As for the argument about countries being ‘prematurely democratised’, I think a certain Mr. Musharraf would love to follow that line of argument, provided the circumstances would let him i.e. Who knows? He might yet have the opportunity to do that, if the PPP-PML (N) coalition fails to last its full term!